I have run the 491 on the rear of my rig with good results aprox.6500 to 7000 miles on the rear skin.I followed a thread at SCT on the 402PT and thought I would give one a try.As stated above,the guys in the shop don't like to install them in Western New York either.I think I will try try a couple boxes of doughnuts to as suggested.To date I only have aprox. 900 miles on it so far to early to tell but I do like the firmer sidewalls the tread gauge shows no change as of yet to be continued.
I have been tracking this post and was wondering if I could use these police tires on my 87 heritage softail/lierty sidecar rig.
Since this bike has the horizontal shocks and one post mentioned if you
modified you shock air pressure, I wanted to be sure that I could use these tires with my rig.
I will need to change my rear tire next year and have not yet decided on my choice of options. Riding a hack 3 yrs+.
Twin tire from Jay at Dauntless?
Change my rear setup and have Harry make me a solid rim and use a car radial?
Dunlop police tire?
Any advice from you more experienced riders on which way to go? Thanks lenny
hdrghack (Chuck) stated he was getting ,what?, 6-7000 miles with the dunlop. Chuck has been in the sidecar game for many years so I think we can assume his setup is decent. He should, I think, increase the milage for his rear tire with the police tire or with the twin tire. How much? I have no idea. Maybe some others can comment here. These are both good options.
Lenny , I don't think you mentioned what tire you have run nor what milage you have experienced in the past. I would think the milage should be at least similar to Chuck's milage.
If you did decide to go with a wheel from Harry it would not be a bad thing. I think Harry mentioned running a 165R15 on the Harleys. This is a tire that is readily available as a rule..check it out. The last one we purchased was on sale at Pep Boys for 38 bucks! This is a far sight less expensive than the Dunlop and a little less than the Twin Tires. But..unless you plan to run the rig for enough miles to let the wheel pay for itself then it may be hard to justify. How many miles should you get with the 165? I don't know but there would be a difference. Maybe Harry would have a better handle on it. He IS a good friend and square shooter.
Please Keep us posted ..
I spoke with Harry the other nite to get some idea of price and time frame to complete the job. He is very honest and a knows his craft.In addition to running car radials(decreased cost/improved performance)Harry also mentioned that solid rear wheel should be more stable and stronger to handle the stresses that the spoked stock rim currently on the bike.
Iam running with Avon MKII and would have to say 6,500 miles is about right for the rear tire.
I avg. 5000/ year (have 3 young children/am one of two Docs in a busy
Family practice office) so riding time is limited.
That why I asked for in the info on the RON-DEE-VOO post.
Family activites and on call responsibilities limit my ability to attend alot of these rallies.
Thanks again Lenny
Harry mentioned speaking to you. I just was not sure it was you :).
Claude 🙂
When I checked with the HD dealer the answer I got was (copied from one of their bulletins):
"D402 PT bead lock tires may only be mounted on matching Harley-Davidson FXRP, FLHTP or FLHP rims."
Would like to give them a try on my FLHTCUI (Ultra), but they say I don't have the right rims/wheels.
That's very interesting post !
Does anyone know the answer to this?
I have a 87 heritage so I would assume that I could not use these tires if you need special rims that come on police bikes.
Well.............let me see.......got a 2001 roadglide thats a FLTRI no P with the factory spoke wheels and although there was some cussing comming from the shop when they were installing the 402PT on the rear wheel it did finally go on.The next time I see a police bike I will check it out if they have "special rims" I was told by the dealer that I go to that they are hard to install and once they are on you will work to get it off I told the guy at the counter at that point you see what my rear tires look like when I come in so break the bead and cut it off at that point I am done with that tire.The side walls are very stiff and thick,the rubber is suppost to be a hard compound I also tried to talk to Dunlop here in Western New York where the MC Tires are made and explain to them why I wanted some info. on this tire I was only refered back to the touring tires and told that these are what I should be using.As for installing it on a spoked rim I think I would pass on that I have seen a few rigs with loose or broken spokes to the rear rim.
For what it's worth - H/D Police bikes have the same tubeless rims as any other touring model.
I ride a Police bike both professionaly and for pleasure and believe me, there are no "secret Police rims" out there.
Now I have no idea why the dealer does not want to mount them unless:
* The service guys will revolt!
* He does not carry this tire and does not want to admit it and unless he
services the local Police bikes this is very likely the case.
* In todays lawyer driven world he feels that if he goes against the
service bulletin and something happens in regards to this bike/tire
combo that you will come back on him - this is most likely the reason.
See if he will just sell the tire to you and go have an independent shop mount it.
I see new take-offs on e-bay every week.
If not - looks like the twin-tire option from Jay might be the way to go.
It's funny how every dealer is different - but then I have an FLHPI (Roadking Police) so it's not an issue for me.
Happy Motorin'
Dean & Betty
I think that Dean hit the nail on the head abot being sued if anything goes wrong and the owner of the bike claims "FOUL PLAY"on the installer.
Producing a document stating police tires should not be installed on any other model other than the police models could lead to legal action against them.
The dealer may also be concerned with getting in trouble with HD at the corporate level for not following their guidelines.
I really think that the manual is only a starting point and you have to guide and regulate the individual plant. Dear Brother, I have the HD Bagger HD make-up and is set to face lean meat rather than how the manual says.
I will be giving you a call very shortly and ordering two.
